Category Archives : Attractions

As you first look upon the Great Wall, it is impossible not to be awestruck at this man-made structure. Construction started in the 7th century BC, with additions and rebuilding continuing until the 16th century AD. The Great Wall was built to keep out the warring invaders of the north, but additional sections were extended eastward for nearly 6,700 kilometres. The Badaling section is the most well preserved section of the Wall. You can climb to its top and walk for a mile in either direction: the Great Wall snakes ahead though the mountains as far as you can see.

The Forbidden City (the Palace Museum)
In the heart of the capital lies the Forbidden City, built during the Ming dynasty in 1406. The Forbidden City is actually a city-within-a-city; with 9999 rooms spread over 250 acres. During the Ming and Qing dynasty, 24 emperors made their home in the Forbidden City and forbade commoners from entering. The Emperor’s Palace has been transformed into a museum that holds many treasures of the Imperial Family.

Overlooking the Huangpu River, Shanghai is home to 16 million people and is one of China’s largest, most cosmopolitan cities. It is a beautiful city mixing traditional Chinese and 21st century architecture. And at night, the city comes alive with lights which line highways, buildings and the Huangpu River. In the newly built rising Pudong, east of the Huangpu River, it has fast become home to multinational companies with operations in China and Asia.

Beijing is located in the North and is China’s capital and its most modern city. This bustling city is home to over 10 million people, while remaining steeped in China’s rich, royal past. China’s two final dynasties (1368-1911) and 26 emperors have bestowed Beijing with the richest dynastic heritage in the world.

Just one-and-a-half hours by air from Beijing, Xian is the home of the world-famous life-size Terra Cotta Army, unearthed in 1974 after being buried with the first Qin emperor for 22 centuries. Xian was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC, and the capital city for 11 dynasties up to the 9th century. It is from here that caravans started on the Silk Road to Europe, changing the Western world forever. The massive City Wall and Moat that surround the city are a monument to the importance of Xian.